Sealing gasket and uses of such a gasket

Abstract

A gasket of multipurpose design is provided, requiring only simple adjustments of the structure of the gasket as a function of the use that is made thereof, namely for connectors in a fluid circuit or for high-pressure hydraulic pistons. More precisely, there is provided an annular gasket of elastically deformable material presenting an axis of revolution and a transverse axis, and comprising, in cross-section, a central zone of determined thickness presenting an inside face facing towards the axis of revolution, and an opposite outside face, together with two side faces interconnecting the inside and outside faces. At least one of the side faces includes at least one compressible lobe; and one of the outside and inside faces carries two lips suitable for bending, that are arranged on either side of the transverse axis, and each of which is connected to a respective one of the side faces.

1 . An annular gasket of elastically deformable material presenting an axis of revolution and a transverse axis, and comprising, in cross-section, a central zone of determined thickness, presenting an inside face facing towards the axis of revolution, an outside face opposite therefrom, and two side faces interconnecting the inside and outside faces, wherein:
 at least one of the side faces includes at least one compressible lobe; and   one of the outer and inner faces carries two lips suitable for bending that are arranged on either side of the transverse axis and each of which is connected to a respective one of the side faces.   
   
   
       2 . An annular gasket according to  claim 1 , wherein the inside face carries the two lips suitable for bending that are arranged on either side of the transverse axis and each of which is connected to a respective one of the side faces. 
   
   
       3 . An annular gasket according to  claim 1 , wherein the outside face carries the two lips suitable for bending that are arranged on either side of the transverse axis and each of which is connected to a respective one of the side faces. 
   
   
       4 . A sealing gasket according to  claim 1 , wherein both lips and said at least one lobe present respective determined nominal heights relative to the transverse axis of the gasket, the nominal height of at least one of the lips being greater than the nominal height of said at least one lobe. 
   
   
       5 . A sealing gasket according to  claim 1 , having at least two lobes of different heights. 
   
   
       6 . A sealing gasket according to  claim 1 , wherein each side face carries a respective lobe arranged so that a space is provided between the lobe and a respective one of the lips so as to enable the lobe to be compressed by material creep. 
   
   
       7 . A sealing gasket according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one lobe is located at a determined minimum distance from the inside or outside face that does not carry the lips. 
   
   
       8 . A sealing gasket according to  claim 1 , including flash in a mold-separation plane, the flash being disposed substantially parallel to the transverse axis of the gasket. 
   
   
       9 . A sealing gasket according to  claim 1 , wherein the inside or outside face that does not carry the lips is substantially plane. 
   
   
       10 . A sealing gasket according to  claim 1 , wherein the inside or outside face that does not carry the lips is concave. 
   
   
       11 . The gasket according to  claim 1 , in combination with a device for connecting together two pipes for a fluid at a determined pressure, the pipes being placed in an outside medium at a predetermined pressure, the connection device comprising a male part and a female part, wherein the gasket is mounted to be squeezed axially in a groove of determined width in the male part, in such a manner that:
 if the pressure of the outside medium is greater than the pressure of the fluid, the two lips are carried by the outside face and the inside face is in contact with the bottom of the groove in the male part; and   if the pressure of the fluid is greater than the pressure of the outside medium, the two lips are carried by the inside face and are in contact with the bottom of the groove in the male part.   
   
   
       12 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the ratio of the nominal thickness of the central zone of the gasket divided by a minimum squeezing height between the male and female parts is typically less than 1, preferably lying in the range 0.85 to 0.95. 
   
   
       13 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein:
 if the pressure of the outside medium is greater than the pressure of the fluid, the gasket is mounted on the male part with extension lying in the range about 1% to 5% relative to its nominal size; and   if the pressure of the fluid is greater than the pressure of the outside medium, the gasket is mounted on the female part with peripheral compression lying in the range about 1% to 3% relative to its nominal size.   
   
   
       14 . The device according to  claim 11 , wherein the gasket presents a maximum squeezing width, and the ratio of the maximum squeezing width divided by the width of the groove is less than 1, preferably lying in the range 0.75 to 0.85. 
   
   
       15 . The gasket according to  claim 3 , mounted for providing sealing between a chamber and a piston mounted to move in said chamber, wherein the gasket is mounted to be squeezed radially in a groove of the chamber, the groove being of determined height and depth, such that the lips are carried by the outside face and are in contact with the bottom of the groove, and the inside surface of the gasket is in contact with the piston. 
   
   
       16 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the ratio of the depth of the groove divided by a nominal transverse length of the gasket is typically less than 1, preferably lying in the range 0.75 to 0.95. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the inside face is plane and substantially free of any mold-parting plane flash. 
   
   
       18 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein each side face carries a lobe arranged in such a manner that a space is provided between said at least one lobe and a corresponding one of the lips so as to enable the lobe to be compressed by material creep, the lobe being placed to extend the inside face. 
   
   
       19 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein said at least one lobe presents a side face that is substantially parallel to the edges of the groove. 
   
   
       20 . The apparatus according to  claim 15 , wherein the ratio of the height of the groove divided by the sum of the nominal heights of the lips is typically less than 1, preferably lying in the range 0.6 to 0.85.